Improvement in clasps



E. S. SMITH.

' tmasps.

No. 171,961. Y' Patented Jan.11,1876.

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7% im' ,P i am@ fm; MQQM' N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEH. WASNINGTUN, D. C.

UNITED STATES EDWARD S.l SMITH, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT,'ASSIGNORAATO ATHE PATENT OFFICE.

SMITH & GRIGGS\MANUFAOTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS. v

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17 1,961, dated January 11, 1876; application filed October 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. SMITH, of Waterbury, in the county of New `Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Clamps for Stockings, Supporters, &c., of which the following is a specification:

Clamps for clothes have been made of two jaws connected together, and with a cam for closing the saule, as seen in Letters Patent No. 18,632, granted November 17, 1857, to L. H. Cushman.

My present invention is an improvement upon the same, that lessens the expense of manufacture, and adapts the device especial ly to supporting stockings, although the article may be used for other purposes. In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 2 is a section, and Fig. 3 represents the pieces ot' sheet metal as cut out ready to be bent up. These views are in larger size than generally employed, so as to show the clamp more clearly.

The piece of sheet metal of which the body of the clamp is made is a strip with ears a a. This strip is folded to form the spring sides b b', with the loop c 'at the bend for the suspending-ring d, and the ends are bent up at right angles, or nearly so, to form graspingjaws c, and the ears a are bentup at the sides ot' the part b of the clamp, and receive into holes the pivots 2 of the bent lever i. This lever i, when turned back, allows the jaws to open by the spring of the metal, and when the lever i is turned the other way it compresses the jaws together, in consequence of the flat end 3 acting between the pivots 2 and the side b of thevclamp.

This clamp is very cheap, durable, and etvlcient, and it lies flat against the person when used as a supporter. v

I claim as my inventionv The clamp shown and described, consisting of the body b b', of a single strip of metal, folded to form the loop c, and provided with ears a a and griping-jaws e, operated by the pivoted cam -lever i, for the purposes set forth.

signed by me this 20th day of october, 1875.

EDWD. S. SMITH. 

